Compare the2022 Honda CR-V HybridVS 2022 Kia Sportage

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2024/05/01

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the CR-V Hybrid deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The CR-V Hybrid’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Sportage’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CR-V Hybrid. But it costs extra on the Sportage.

The CR-V Hybrid has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Sportage’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CR-V Hybrid has a standard cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Cross-path warning costs extra on the Sportage.

The CR-V Hybrid has standard HondaLink Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Sportage doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the CR-V Hybrid and the Sportage have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda CR-V Hybrid is safer than the Kia Sportage:

	CR-V Hybrid	Sportage
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	141	207
Neck Stress	175 lbs.	203 lbs.
Neck Compression	70 lbs.	72 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	65/19 lbs.	11/231 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda CR-V Hybrid is safer than the Kia Sportage:

	CR-V Hybrid	Sportage
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	71	87
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
Hip Force	310 lbs.	327 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	143	239
Spine Acceleration	50 G’s	56 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	543 lbs.	873 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The CR-V Hybrid’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sportage runs out after 100,000 miles.

There are over 39 percent more Honda dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the CR-V Hybrid’s warranty.

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 10 places higher in reliability than Kia.

Engine

The CR-V Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 31 more horsepower (212 vs. 181) and 57 lbs.-ft. more torque (232 vs. 175) than the Sportage’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda CR-V Hybrid is faster than the Kia Sportage:

	CR-V Hybrid	Sportage 4 cyl.	Sportage SX Turbo
Zero to 60 MPH	7.5 sec	8 sec	8.1 sec
Quarter Mile	16 sec	16.3 sec	16.2 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CR-V Hybrid gets better mileage than the Sportage:

			MPG
CR-V Hybrid
		2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	40 city/35 hwy
Sportage
	FWD	2.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	23 city/30 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/28 hwy
	AWD	2.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	22 city/26 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/24 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the CR-V Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Sportage doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the CR-V Hybrid’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The Sportage doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The CR-V Hybrid has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Sportage doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda CR-V Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Kia Sportage (5 to 7). This means the CR-V Hybrid produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Sportage every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The CR-V Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Sportage doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the CR-V Hybrid’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Sportage:

	CR-V Hybrid	Sportage
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	11.9 inches

The CR-V Hybrid stops shorter than the Sportage:

	CR-V Hybrid	Sportage
70 to 0 MPH	173 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	118 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CR-V Hybrid has larger tires than the Sportage (235/60R18 vs. 225/60R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CR-V Hybrid EX/EX-L has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sportage LX.

Suspension and Handling

For greater off-road capability the CR-V Hybrid has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sportage (8.2 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the CR-V Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the CR-V Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Sportage doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The CR-V Hybrid uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Sportage doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The CR-V Hybrid has 4.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sportage (102.9 vs. 98.6).

The CR-V Hybrid has .8 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 2.2 inches more rear legroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sportage.

The rear step up height for the CR-V Hybrid is 1.4 inches lower than the Sportage (18” vs. 19.4”).

Cargo Capacity

The CR-V Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Sportage with its rear seat up (33.2 vs. 30.7 cubic feet). The CR-V Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Sportage with its rear seat folded (68.7 vs. 60.1 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CR-V Hybrid easier. The CR-V Hybrid’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26 inches, while the Sportage’s liftover is 29.8 inches.

The CR-V Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the Sportage’s in every dimension:

	CR-V Hybrid	Sportage
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.5”/71”	33.4”/68.2”
Max Width	54”	52.3”
Min Width	41.5”	41”
Height	41”	29.5”

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CR-V Hybrid’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Sportage doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the CR-V Hybrid. The Sportage doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the CR-V Hybrid, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Sportage doesn’t offer memory seats.

The CR-V Hybrid EX-L/Touring’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Sportage doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The CR-V Hybrid’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Sportage’s parking brake has to released manually.

The CR-V Hybrid’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Sportage’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

If the windows are left open on the CR-V Hybrid the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Sportage can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CR-V Hybrid Touring’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Sportage’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The CR-V Hybrid’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Sportage’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

The CR-V Hybrid’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Kia charges extra for heated mirrors on the Sportage.

The CR-V Hybrid has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Sportage.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda CR-V Hybrid and the Kia Sportage, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The CR-V was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 20 years. The Sportage has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

Motor Trend selected the CR-V as their 2018 Sport Utility of the Year. The Sportage has never been chosen.